Buy Stock Photography or Download Free Photos

Many creative professionals are torn between downloading free photos and buying stock photography. Each has its own merits. Downloading free photos may have an alluring effect, especially if you are on a tight budget. But, we highly recommend you buy stock photography for reasons that will become clear in this article. There are plenty of places to take images. Free photos may sound amazing, but like there’s a catch.

When you download free photos, there are restrictions on how you can use the image. These restrictions can be very limiting that you may not be able to use the images properly. Whether it is adding attributions or links to the contributor, it may greatly affect your intended use. For instance, some images does not allow you to use them for commercial or editorial purposes. Contributors can tell you exactly how you can use their files. Not adhering to these terms may hurt your reputation and your pockets.

Free photos are very limiting, and rarely allow you to edit them. So if you want to use images in a design or creative project, buying a royalty free stock photo is the best option. It covers all the bases, especially in terms of reselling. Here are other reasons why you should buy stock photography:

It allows you to edit or retouch images to your liking. Being able to manage your photos can be very beneficial, especially if you need to an element. Using free photos does not allow you to support your creative projects fully because of certain limitations, imposed by the contributor.

You can get an extended license for unlimited print runs and resales. This is something that free photos are lacking. When you buy stock photography, you can purchase an extended license for a higher price. This license gives you bonus rights on how you can use your image downloads.

It saves you time and money. You may think that you can save more with free photos because they don’t require any budget at all. Well, you are wrong. You can be in a lot of trouble when you get caught by the copyright police. Copyright law violations does not only damage your reputation, it can also hurt your bank. Plus, you will be asked to take down the image. When you buy stock photography, you save time and money from all these hassles.

When you buy stock photography, you don’t have limitations. Most images come with a standard license. But if you need more rights to use the image without resistance, you can always get an extended license. Stock media agencies offer credit packages and subscription to help you save time and money. They also give you the opportunity to work with premium images at a discounted rate.